“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ― Sun Tzu

Posts tagged “kings”

April Showers- New Growth Personal and Professional

Good morning to everyone. I hope everyone has had a great week. We’ve had a good amount of rain but it is getting warmer. There is a first flea market this week but rain might make it small or non-existent. I’ve been having fun adjusting to progressive glasses. Finding the sweet spot to view different ranges is a trick. I got my back up glasses with different frames that of course has slightly different sweet spots. The eyes are one of areas you can feel your age. But I’ve spent lots of time on the computer and even work on my iPhone. I need to try and do more on my computer vs phone for the larger screen. In the office I just replaced the old TV with a larger one. I’ve also been doing some more wood stacking and organizing. That season of wood stove fires is slowly closing. I am so happy to have gotten so much trimming of trees and bushes done already. My BERRY KA-POW Chuck Norris Tribute Wine was racked to the 6 gallon glass jug. I’ll let it rest in there for a few weeks before I decide to bottle. I need to use up a few more bottles of ‘Paw-Paw Special’ from the previous batch so I can get more bottles. Sounds like I need a few more meetings at the fort.

I had some good conversations as of late with different CDI members all working on various tasks. We did not attend the local film festival mixer like we normally do since everyone was busy on tasks. I have been commissioned to write the screenplay for the follow up movie to SILENT NIGHT IN ALGONA. It is called RETURN TO ALGONA and is about the return of the German artists/former PW who built the Nativity scene gifted to the town. All the deep dive research into 1968 has been just amazing. The film is a snapshot of 68′ and shows what is the same and different from 1944. In prepping for my semi-literary agent search I’ve realized I’ve had 13 feature films produced that I’ve written and several early co-written projects. Various short form endeavors too. I love to write and I do feel it is where many productions could use help. A better built blueprint. I’m not sure as I’ve never put it all in front of me (I need to) but I think I’ve had every screenplay nominated or won as best screenplay award. I think that is a reflection of my joy of writing. I see a movie in my head and I put it on the page. I think it is a gift and I love sharing it. I’m writing a beautiful story that will showcase many of my favorite actor friends. I have one scene in the opening and that is it. Sometimes you are the star and sometimes you are there to help tell the story. I think that is easier to say having starred in many films and I again am very appreciative of that.

I’ve also had a few great meetings with the marketing teams at our home distributor TEG about the artwork for WILD FAITH CHRISTMAS and AI JESUS: The Secret of the Kingdom Chip. I love the artwork for both and I think they will help bring new audiences to these films and hopefully the franchises. I’m also very fond of the theatrical poster for ROM COMS MUST DIE (RCMD) our dark comedy. I had talks with a possible small art theater for a RCMD premiere. Our set up for for broader theatrical release is close. A few questions being answered by our post supervisor and delivery hub. I appreciate the nice communications from folks who watched THE QUEST TRILOGY films and the original WILD FAITH. I had one individual reach out full of questions after watching part two of the trilogy CHASING THE STAR. I said, you have to watch part 3 and they did. And it all made sense. But the films are layered and you get something every time you watch it. This person watched part 3 twice to grasp all that was shown. Depending on your view point of The Quest Trilogy, AI Jesus could be a follow-up film in the series. A stand alone but with some great tie-in’s. I’m just beyond excited to share these three new films with audiences and I’m loving how the other CDI films are finding new audiences weekly. It is humbling to know that tens of millions of good folks have watched these films.

While books are not as popular as they once were I still love them. Just like I love album LP’s and other physical media. I always say that if you love something you better own it. The Ghost Town book has been reissued and I need to one day connect my name on Amazon to all the books I’m part of. Maybe it needs its own FB page but I have so many already. I would love to get into soundtracks but I think I want to do a best of CDI music in a K-Tel style. I need to write a few reflection pieces for a few upcoming books on Knight Chills making of book and The Quest Trilogy making of book. Speaking of making of – Adam Towner and I are working on the BTS of AI Jesus.

Development – I’ve been enjoying the script writing on no less than three screenplays. One comes with 1/2 the financing and the other two have interested parties but the scripts have to be on point. Other scripts already polished are being broken down for a 1st budget so we know what to ask for money wise. This order of business is so important. Money without a tight script is not good, yet I hear of that in Hollywood all the time. Unfortunately it often shows. Another good problem to have is too many options and we often have that. I’ve said before that outside development/collaboration is taken serious when it comes with money. When we raise money it goes to developed scripts and projects we’ve consulted often with our distributors. That is why we don’t have to shop we produce wanted product. The project has to be primed for success and so that is why I really scrutinize the script and production team because I plan to win. We have a great project we are considering and I like the direction of the development. We will see in the next couple weeks what happens.

I also plan to have a first draft of RETURN TO ALGONA very soon. I’m on page 70 of the first draft and so I am guessing this time next week I will have first draft. We love our Iowa family just like our Alpena, Yuma and friends around the world. I’m going to wrap this up and eat a few eggs. We’ve been still getting 4-5 a day so we have a little egg factory over here. I’m going to stop by the flea market and see if the vendors show up despite the early morning rain. I have a birthday party today for my niece and I’m excited by that. And to end the night my brother and a few childhood friends with gather. It is my dear brother’s birthday tomorrow! Soccer has been fun. We have one more indoor game and outdoor starts next month until October I believe.

I hope you are all enjoying your Spring. I’m blessed to be healthy and happy and I look forward to the exciting things ahead both personal and professional. I hope you all have a great day and we’ll chat next week. Lastly, be good to one another. The world is in flux as it always is but remember what is important. By that I mean friends, family and fun and not always promoting conflict and division. Coffee Cheers!

DJ

April 12, 2026 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

So the Dream Continues…

The coffee pot was here to greet me on this fine Sunday morning. We’ve had a few steady days of slow snow falling and the green grass is again long gone. Crazy busy week on so many fronts. We won’t go all into the Middle East stuff as this is not really for all that but change is coming there and it really shows people power.

On the home front I acquired a few new things such as a gunsafe (Hey I’m from Michigan), picnic table for around the fire pit and also framed a few pieces of art I’ve had for years. (Since the 1970’s)  I’ve also been sorting, cleaning and organizing my business affairs. The new year wheel is turning so onto a few film updates…

I’ve had a few great scripts/offers that came my way for acting as of late. One came as an SOS as a replacement to again be shot overseas. I LOVED the script. WW2 Historic drama with a Zorro flair including ninja, samurai, Nazi’s…long short is I had to seek permission from another production on dates and I also inquired about an additional pay bump as it was a touch under my usual. Being that they start shooting this Monday (Tomorrow) with the American character starting on the 5th they had to move forward fast. They hired someone else who said, YES, YES, YES. I guess I wanted to let you all know that I too STILL face rejection on a weekly basis. I felt a deep artistic pain because I truly connected with a character and film and could see it all in my mind’s eye. They wanted me, I paused and questioned and the biz part of the show-biz stung me. DOH! Next!

I’m still looking at a few acting projects. We’ve got a few new associated projects in development that we’ll announce soon. CDI’s projects moving and grooving towards that all mighty green light!  These two projects have been a big focus last week.

“Outside the Wire, Forgotten Children of Afghanistan”

It plays the 35th Cleveland Film Festival – the dates and times  are Tuesday, March 29 (7 p.m.), Wed. the 30th (11:40 a.m.) and Thursday (1:50 p.m.). The other festival info including the new GI Festival will be passed along here shortly.  Many network and distribution outlets being looked at.

“Renovation” the 1st theatrical screenings are being booked and the 1st wave of screeners went out to distributors last week. Already positive response on the film and so I think we’ll be getting some good offers soon!

REFILL TIME – OK back:)

I’m looking forward to “Darkest Night” shoot in April. It is CDI’s 1st international collaboration and one of my goals is to keep opening up these bridges between filmmakers here and abroad. I think much like “Karma, Crime, Passion, Reincarnation” which I sincerely hope makes it to the US this year, it brings a wonderful new vibe. The music score on “Karma” reminds me of “Temple of Doom” which for those of you who follow me know that is one of my favs.

I watched a producers link of the NYC film “Benjamin” last night that has the new score laid into it. It is a really good film and I think my fellow actors did a wonderful job. I can’t wait for that to come out.

“Locked in a Room” has to be getting closer now and that is a whole different twisted vibe:) I hope they do a premiere in Michigan for that film. Ah…Michigan. A raging debate over the tax incentives which seem just fine perhaps until fall but could see a altering in the program. That would be better than elimination for poor Michigan which has been struggling.  This is a new industry whose merit must be placed above any and all political agenda. That said, I think that many of these governors are taking very unpopular actions because many before them refused to do so.

I also have mixed feelings on all this union stuff going on. Again I recall in the auto industry folks bragging about being able to sit and play cards while getting paid all because of certain union negotiations. I do know that in at least one situation where we asked our own union (SAG) for assistance. They said, anything we can do. When it came time for action they said they could not get involved. And to add injury to insult before the dust was cleared they had their hand out asking for a payment. They have also treated several actor/producers I know like outsiders when these people are heroes trying to create work for their fellow union members. I for one see the union as pretty non-effective when truly needed. Furthermore they have just enough organization to get in your business and seem surprised when you tell them things worked out a certain way especially when they did nothing to assist. So I’m not political on this matter and I’ll wait to see how it all works out but I’m still waiting to see where one of my dollars collected for dues has done anything for me. I do have a cool looking card that probably cost 5 cents to make so I do get that.

Onward to better topics –  “GPS the Movie” a great thriller I helped produce and co-starred in will go to the CHILLER TV this Spring so see if you get that TV channel. I hope the extended audiences enjoy it. We’re actually in talks with several TV networks on several projects so I’m excited that we’re exploring that realm.

Enjoy the Oscars tonight. I really enjoyed both “The King’s Speech” and “The Social Network” where the line about the twin brothers in skeleton suits chasing the karate kid around the gym, is probably my 2nd choice favorite. So enjoy and maybe one day it will be myself and more of my associates getting recognized. The Oscars have become a lot like Sundance for me. I don’t want to go watch I want to participate and that means creating the right products. So the dream continues.

Have a great day!

DJ

February 27, 2011 | Categories: Blogroll | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment